Direction-signal for motor-vehicles



J. PFEIFER DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9. I918.

Patented May 31, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- attorney! J.-PFEIFER.

DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9,1918.

Patented May 31, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2,

f anuantoz 854;, 7 WWW attoznuf J. PFEIFER.

DIREC'HON SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJJ. I918.

Patented May 31, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

attozuu d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PFEIFER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, AfiSIGNQR 0F ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES L.

- FRIERMOOID, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

DIRECTION-SIGNAL FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN PFEIFER a citizen of the United States,residing at pringiield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Signals forMotor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in direction signals forautomobiles, it more particularly relating to that type of directionsignal in which a series of lights are flashed in successive order inthe direction in which it is desired to turn.

The object of the invention is to specify and make more convenient themanner of flashing the lights, a more specific object desired directionthrough a definite period of time, the construction being such that theswitch will be automatically thrown out of operation after thepredetermined and required number of flashes have been made.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the switch as toindicate the signal Stop, the manipulation of the switch to indicatethis signal automatically cutting out the direction'light flashes.

A' further object 01 the invention is to simplify the construction andmake more convenient and effective the operation of signals of thischaracter.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signalproper, the switch mechanism not being shownin this figure.

Fig; .Zis a sideelevation of the switch mechanism shown attached to thesteering post of an automobile with the casing shown in section. V

Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3-3 of "Fig; 1.

Fig. 4; is a view somewhat diagrammatic in character showing the rear ofthe signal casing proper, with the rear of the casing removed, and alsoshowing a topplan of the svitch, with the upper part ofits casingremoved, and the circuits between the moved showing the parts in theposition in which they will be thrown for flashing the lights in onedirection.

Fig. 6 is also a top plan view of the switch w1th the upper portion ofthe casing removed showing the parts in the position in which they willbe thrown for flashing the lights in the opposite direction.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the switch with the upper portion of thecasing removed showing the position of theparts when thrown to indicatethe stop signal.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the switch with the casing shown insection, the view being in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig.2. I

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8 looking upwardly.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the contact fingers of theswitch, looking at them in the direction in which they are shown in Fig.8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the contact fingers, thesection being on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

F 12 is a detail of the stop contact finger.

Fig. 13 is a detail of that portion ofthe switch which controls thecontact fingers to change the order of their contact for one of thedirections and also for throwing them out oi": operation when it isdesired to indicate stop, with the automatic release for the same, theparts being shown in neutral position.

Fig. 14 is a View of the same parts showing them in the position inwhich they are manipulated for the. stop signal.

in the installation of the signal, it is the intention to install one ofthe signal casings at the rear of the automobile and another signalcasing at some convenient point at the front, one switch mechanismserving to illuminate and extinguish the lights in both casings, theswitch mechanism being located at some convenient point such. as onthesteering post of the automobile just. be 'neath the steering wheel. Asboth of the casings containing the lights will be of identicalconstruction, but one has been shown.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the casing for the signal proper isindicated by 1, this casing being of metallic construction and having aremovable front 2 stamped or stenciled ings irrthecasing front areplaced screens 6 preferably of wire and back of these wire screens is adisk 7 of translucent material such as celluloid. (See Fig. 3 fordetail). The screens 6 should be of the same color 'as the metal of thecasing, such as black,

and the purpose of the screens is to render the signals Turn and Stopinvisible or, ineffective by daytime except at such times as the lightsare illuminated behind them and also permit more effective dayli htindications as well as by night. While the sheet of translucent material7 is more to provide fora weather proof covering for the front 2 of thecasing it will at the same time permit the proper indications both byday and night. lVhile the sheet 7 has been described at translucent,which ispreferable, it might be of a transparent nature with the sameresult.

Within the casing behind the word Turn is an electric light 8, behindeach of the openings 5 are lights 9 and behind the word Stop is a light10, suitably supported upon the brackets 11, cross-bar 13 and bracket12. -Each of the lights 9 is in a separate compartment, the compartmentsbeing formed by the bar 13 as the bottom, another-bar 14 as the top andvertical pa-rtitions 15 between the respective bars 13 and 14;

" Asbefo're stated, the switch for flashing the lights for signalingpurposes is supported in convenientreach of the driver, such as on thesteering post 16 (Fig. 2) a circular bracket 17Qclamped to the steeringpost, being employed as the supporting means. 'Secured to the bracket 17are upright supports 18 19 and 20 which support circular plates 21 and22; a casing 23 being clamped between the bracketl'? and nuts on thesupports for inclosing the switch mechanism. Journaled in the supportingdisks 21 I .withthe ratchet wheel.

'and'22 is a shaft 24 to which is fixed a ratchet. wheel 25. Looselymounted upon the" shaft :24 .is a gearwheel 26 havinga pivoted pawl 27in spring-pressed engagement The gear 26 is in mesh with a pinion 28fixed to a shaft. 29

whichcarries a gear 30. The gear 30 meshes I r with anotherpinion 31 ona shaft 32 which carries a gear 33.; The gear 33 is in mesh with thepinion 34 on-a shaft 35 which carries a gear 36. The gear 36 meshes withthe pinion 37 on a shaft 88 which carries a foursided disk 39. Pivotedon a small bracket 40 isa pin'41 having connected therewith oppositelyarranged studs 42 and 43 placed in the path of movement of the cornersof the four-sided disk. The pin 41 also has a tail 44 projectingtherefrom between the studs 42 and 43 at right angles to the pins. Theratio of the gearing and the action of the studs upon the four-sideddisk which performs the function of a governing device is such as toregulate the speed of the mechanism to the proper degree; the governormechanism consisting of the pin and studs and tail being given avibratory movement by reason of the contact of the points of thefour-sided disk with the studs to cause it to act as an inertiagovernor.

Power to drive the mechanism so far described, is imparted by a spring45 coiled about the shaft 24, with one end thereof connected to the saidshaft 24 and the other end to the support 18. Connected to the upper endof the shaft 24 above the supporting plate 22 is a partial disk 46, oneportion of the periphery of which has a slot 47 (shown in dotted linesin the various figures). This disk has a vertically extending pin 48which receives the elongated slot 49 of the link 50. The other end ofthe link is pivotally connected with a partial disk 51, the connectionbeing by means of a vertical pin which extends through a slot 51 in theperiphery of the disk in the same manner as described in connection withthe disk 46. l

Connected to the disk 51 is a lever 52.

As a result of this construction, when the lever 52 is turned either tothe right or to the left it will impart a rotary movement in the samedirection to the shaft 24 by reason of the peculiar construction of theconnection consisting of the slotted link 50 and disk 46, placing thespring 45 under tension to a suflicient degree to return the parts tonormal position.

Referring to Fig. 4 in which the mechanism is shown in neutral positionit will be observed that the link 50 is arranged on a straight line withthe pivotal points of the link with the disks 46, 51 and the pivotalconnection 52 of the disk 51, said disk being pivotally supported on theupper plate 22 or in other words the three pivotal points are in astraight line with each other. When the lever 52 is thrown to the leftor to the position shown in Fig. 5 it will revolve the shaft 24 in thedirection shown by the arrow in that figure, placing the spring 45 underincreased tension; the movement of the lever being limited by thecontact of the end of the slot 51 in the disk 51 with the link 50. lVhenthe lever is released by the operator the spring and train of gearingbefore described will revolve the shaft 32 inthe direction of the arrowshown in Fig. 6, the movement of the parts being automatically stoppedwhen they assume the position shown in Fig. 4, or as before explained,when the pivotal connections of the lever 52 and link 50 become alined.

When thelever 52 is thrown to the right, or to the position shown inFig. 6, a like action will take place; that is, the shaft24 will berevolved in the same direction to place the spring under tension and themechanism then operated to drive the shaft 32 in the same directionuntil the parts have again assumed their neutral position shown in Fig.4.

Secured to the shaft 32 is a wiper consisting in the present instance offour wings 53. Arranged in the path of movement of these wings 53, is aseries of five fingers 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58, these fingers beingpivoted on a pin 59 of insulating material and also separated by blocks60 of insulating material which are connected to and supported by theplate 22. Springs 61 arranged between the blocks of insulating materialtend to throw the fingers against the wiper wings 53. Each finger 54,55, 56 and 57 has a pair of grooves 63 and 64, one deep groove and oneshallow groove, as best shown in Fig. 11. It will be noticed that thesegrooves are arranged in two series; that the outer groove of the topmostfinger '54 is the deepest and that the outer groove of the lower finger57 is the shallowest, the grooves in the intermediate fingers varying indepth, decreasing downwardly. It will alsobe noticed that the innermostgroove 64 of the upper finger is the shallowest and that the grooves inthe succeeding fingers increase in depth.

Slidably mounted in a guideway 65 on the upper side of the frame plate22 is a slide rod 66 carrying a block 67 of insulating material. In theneutral position of the mechanism this block of insulating material 67stands in line with the series of grooves 63 of the fingers. When theoperating lever 52 is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 5andreleased, the revolution of the shaft 32 causes the wings 53 to pressor wipe back the fingers against the tension of the springs. the fingersas they ride from one wing to the next springing back by the action ofthe springs until arrested by the insulating block 67. By reason of thedifference in depth of the grooves, the fingers, as they ride off of onewing will assume a position such as shown in Fig. 5 so that the nextsuc- "ceeding wing will first contact the upper finger and then eachsuccessive finger 1n order, as a result of which, by reason of'theelectrical connections hereinafter to be described the lights 9 will beilluminated in successive order while the fingers are being pressed backby one of the wings and then simultaneously extinguished while all thefingers are springing back again to a position to be contacted by thenext succeeding wing and the fiashes of light will be to the left or inthe direction in which the operat ing lever 52 has been thrown. I i

' Assuming now that it is desired to indicate this fin er.

the opposite direction, the driver will throw the operating lever 52 tothe right. In order to change the direction of the flashes, it,therefore, becomes necessary that the wiper wings 53 should firstcontact the lower finger 57 and then in succeeding order the fingers 56,55 and 54. In order to accomplish this, provision is made for moving theslide 66 and its connected stop block 67 so that the stop block 67 willbe in line with the series of grooves 64. Connected with the slide 66 isa lateral projection 68 arranged in the path of movement of the shoulder69 on the disk 51, as a result of which as the operating lever is swungto the right the shoulder will contact the projection 68 and move theslide and its block 67 in line with the grooves 64. In order that theslide and block may be held in this position as the operating mechanism,including the shoulder on the disk 51, re-

turns to neutral position, there is provided a catch 70 which is pivotedto a projection 6'5 on the guideway 65 which springs over the lateralprojection 68 on the slide by the action of the spring 71, which isinterposed between the tail of the pawl and the projection 68 the notch70 thereof engaging the projection 68 and thus retains the slide and itsblock 67 in operated position. To release the slide to allow it toreturn to its normal position at the end of the movement of themechanism there is provided on the disk 51 a cam projection 72 which atthe proper moment rides under a beveled exten- 73, and 74. During thetime that the other wiper fingers are being manipulated to indicatedirections, the high point of the lower edge of the finger 58 betweenthe two 'gro0ves73 and 74 will stand opposite the stop block 67 so thatthis finger will not be permitted to spring back against the wipers, thegroove 74 being more for the purpose of giving necessary clearance toprevent the wiper wings from contacting It now being desired to indicatea stop signal, the operator pushes in the slide 66 to the fullestextent, or to the position shown' in Fig. 14, which will bring the block67 in-line with the groove 73 of the finger 58 and out of line with thegrooves of the other fingers. By throwing the operating lever 52 eitherto the right or left, the finger 58 alone will be permitted to springfrom one wing to another and cause the word Stop to be flashed a seriesof times. The slide'66 is held in its operated position during thisperiod by reason of the notch of the catch 70 engaging the lateralprojection 68- and is returned to neutral position inthe manner beforedescribed.

When the handle 52 is'throw'n in either direction the lights 9 areplaced in circuit with the battery B through wire 75, spring finger 76,disk 51,- plate 22, Wiper'wings 53, spring fingers 54:, 55, 56 and57,-springs 61, plates 77 secured between the respective insulatingblocks 60, wires 78, lights 9, supporting plate13 and wire 79 back tobattery. WVhen the parts are in the neutral position shown in Fig. 4, itwill be noticed that the spring finger 76 coincides with a notch orrecess in the disk 51', which breaks the circuit. operated positions ofthe disk 51, the spring linger will ride about the periphery thereof soas to maintain the circuit.

The light'8 behind the word Turn is in circuit with the battery throughwire 80, plate 81'having a projecting finger 82, push rod 66, plate 22,disk 51, spring finger 76, wire 75, battery B, and wire '79 to casing 1.In Fig. 13 the rod 82 is shown in contact with the push rod66'and willbe maintained in contact therewith so long as the rod 1s 1n the positionto illuminate the direction signals. If it isdesired, however, toindicate the stopsignal, when the rod 66 is pushed into the positionbefore described, the finger 82 will coincide with a recess 83' in therod and thus break the circuit to the tu'rn light,8.

The light 1 0 behind the stop signal is in circuit with the battery,through wire 84, metallic plate 85, spring 61, on the lower stop finger58, wiper wings 53, supporting plate 22, disk 51, sprin 'finge'r' 7 6and wire 7 5, battery B, and wiredt) to casing- 1. p

In the event that the signal to turn in either direction has been givenand it is desired to change that signal to stop, this may be readilyaccomplished by simply pushing in the rod 66 and its stop block 67 totheir stop position, which cuts out all the fingers corresponding to thelights 8 and 9 and puts in circuit the'light 10. Likewise if the stopsignal has been set' and it'is desired to change that to indicate adirection, this may be accomplished by releasing the rod 66 which isforced back to normal position by its spring 71, this release of the rodbeing accomplished by throwing the operating handle 52 back to neutralposition, to cause the projection 72 thereon to raise the catch 7 Owhich holds the push rod.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a-device of thecharacter described,

a plurality of lights, electric circuits for the In either of the otherof thea v 2. In a device of the character described,

a plurality of lights, electric circuits for the same, a power operatedswitch mechanism for making and breaking said circuits, and a handoperated device for controlling said switch mechanism, the constructionand arr'angement of said mechanism being such that when said handoperated device is thrown in one direction the switch mechanism willcontrol the circuits to illuminate the lights successively in onedirection and when said hand operated device is thrown in the oppositedirection said switch mechanism will control said circuits to illuminatesaid lights successively in the opposite direction, and means wherebywhen said switch mechanism is restored to neutral position said circuitswill be broken.

3. In a device'of the character described, a plurality of lights,electric circuits for the same, a power operated switch mechanism formaking and breaking said circuits, and a hand operated device forcontrolling said switch mechanism, the construction and arrangement ofsaid mechanism being such that when said hand operated device is thrownin one direction the switch mechanism will control the circuits toilluminate the lights successively in one direction and thensimultaneously extinguish said lights and when said hand operated deviceis thrown in the opposite direction said switch mechanism will controlsaid circuits to illuminatesaid lights successively in the oppositedirection and then simultaneously extinguish the same.

4:. In a device of the character described, a plurality of lights,electric circuits "For the same, a power operated switch mechanism formaking and breaking said circuits, and a hand operated device forcontrolling said switch mechanism, the construction and arrangement ofsaid mechanism being such that when said hand operated device is thrownin one direction the switch mechanism will control the circuits toilluminate the lights successively in one direction and thensimultaneously extinguish said lights and when said hand operated deviceis thrown in the opposite direction said switch mechanism will controlsaid circuits to illuminate said lights successively in the oppositedirection and then simultaneously extinguish the same, and meansincorporated in said switch mechanism whereby when the same has beenrestored to neutral position the circuits will be broken.

5. In a device of the character described, a plurality of lights,electric circuits for the same, a plurality of pivoted fingersincorporatedin, said circuits, one finger for each light, a poweroperated switch mechanism for controlling said circuits including arevoluble contact inoperative relation with said fingers, and means forcontrolling said fingers whereby said revoluble contact will makeelectrical connection therewith in successiveorder to illuminate saidlights in- I for controlling said circuits including a revoluble contactin operative relation with said fingers, and means for controlling saidfingers whereby said revoluble contact will make electrical connectiontherewith in successive order to illuminate said lights in successiveorder, together with means for reversing the order of electricconnection between said revoluble contact and said fingers to reversethe direction of illumination of said lights. I

7 In a device of the character described, a plurality of lights,electric circuits for the same, 'a spring operated'switch mechanism forcontrolling said circuits including an operating handle, saidoperatinghandle being movable in opposite directions for placing the spring ofsaid mechanism under tension to operate said switch mechanism, a seriesof wipers rotatably connected with said switch mechanism, and movablecontacts associated with said wipers for making and breaking saidcircuits.

8. In a device of the character described, a plurality of lights,electric circuits for the same, a switch mechanism having a springassociated therewith, an operating lever associated with said mechanismso connected with said spring as to place said spring under tension by amovement of said lever in either direction, a rotatable shaft associatedwith said mechanism rotatable in the same direction by said springregardless of the direction of throw of said lever, a series of wipersconnected with said shaft, and a series of movable contacts, one foreach circuit, associated with said wipers.

9. In a device of the character described, a plurality of lights forindicating directions, electric circuits for the same, a plurality ofpivoted contact fingers incorporated in said circuits, a motor o eratedswitch mechanism controlling said circuits, an operating lever movablein either vdirection for energizing the motor of said mechanism to causea movement of said mechanism, a series of wipers rotatably connectedwith said mechanism, a series of fingers associated with saidcircuitsand with said wipers, means for holding said fingers in advancedprogressive relation with each other with respect to said wipers in onedirection of the throw of said operating lever, and means for reversingthe order of the advanced relation of said fingers in the oppositedirection of throw of said lever.

10. In a device of the character described, a plurality of lightsrepresenting turn, direction and stop signals, a motor-operated switchmechanism, an operating lever mova- V ble in either direction forcausing a move ment of said switch mechanism, make and break contactscontrolled by said mechanism, and a controlling device operable to breakthe circuits to the turn and direction pggts and establish a circuit tothe stop 1 1. In a device of the character described, a plurality oflights representing turn, direction and stop signals, a motor operatedswitch mechanism, an operating lever movable in either direction forcausing a movement of said switch mechanism, make and break contactscontrolled by said mechanism, a controlling device operable to break thecircuits to the turn and direction lights and establish a circuit to thestop light, together with a detent for same, and means for restoringsaid controlling device at the completion of the movement of said switchmechanism.

12. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pluralityof compartments, each compartment having a window pervious to light, alight located in each compartment, electric circuits for said lights,and a motor' operated switch mechanism for controlling said circuits forsuccessively illuminating said lights in uninterrupted progression,plurality of successive times in either direction, and means under thecontrol of the operator for determining the direction in which thelights may be successively illuminated.

13. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pluralityof compartments, each compartment having a window pervious to light, alight located in eachcompartment, electric circuits for said lights, anda motor operated switch mechanism for controlling said circuits forsuccessively illuminating said lights in uninterrupted progression aplurality of successive times in the same direction, and devicesassociated with said circuits and switch mechanism for reversing thedirection of illumination of said lights,

14:. In a device of the character described, a casing'having a pluralityof compartments, eachcompartment having a window pervious to light, alight located in each compartment, circuits for said lights, a motoroperated switch mechanism, an operating lever movable in eitherdirection for energizing the motor of said mechanism to move saidmechanism, said mechanism, when said operating lever is thrown in onedirection, servin to control said circuits for successively -i'luminating and extinguishing said. lights in uninterrupted progressiona plurality of successive times in the same direction, and saidmechanism when said lever is thrown in the opposite direction serving tocontrol said circuits to reverse the directionof illumination of saidlights in the same. manner.

' 15. In a device of the .character described, a switch mechanism havinga motor for operating. the same, a plurality of circuits, a movablecontact connected with each circuit, a stop for said contacts, a wiperconnected with said mechanism cooperating with said contacts, and meanswhereby said contacts are held in advanced progressive relation withrespect to each other and said stop.

16. In a device of the character described, a switch mechanism having amotor for operating the same, a plurality of circuits, a movable contactconnected with each circuit, a stop for said contacts, a wiper connectedwith said mechanism cooperating with said contacts, and means wherebysaid contacts are held in advanced progressive relation with respect toeach other and said stop, and means whereby the order of advancedrelation of said contacts may he changed toreverse the order ofenergization of said circuits.

17. In a device of the character described, a switch mechanism having amotor for operating the same, a plurality of circuits, a movable springpressed contact finger connected with each circuit, a wiper con nectedwith said mechanism cooperating with said contacts, each of said fingershav ing a pair of slots arranged in line with the slots of the otherfingers, one series of" slots varying in depth in one direction and theother series in the opposite direction, and an insulating stop blockarranged to be shifted in line with either series of slots.

18. In a device of the character described, a switch mechanism having amotor for operating the same, a plurality of circuits, a movable springpressed contact finger connected with each circuit, a wiper connectedwith said mechanism cooperating with said contacts, each of said fingershaving a pair of slots arranged in line with the slots of the otherfingers, one series of slots varying in depth in one direction and theother series in the opposite direction, and an insulating stop blockarranged to be shifted in line with either series of slots and also outof line with both series of slots to hold said fingers out of the pathof said wipers.

19. In a direction signal for motor vehicles, a plurality oftransversely arranged lights, electric circuits for the same. a poweroperated switch mechanism for making and breaking said circuits, and ahand operated device for controlling said switch mechanism, theconstruction and arrangement of said mechanism being such that when saidhand operated device is operated in one manner said switch mechanismwill control the circuits to illuminate said lights successively in onedirection and when said hand operated device is operated in anothermanner said switch mechanism will control said circuits to illuminatesaid lights successively in the opposite direction, independently of thedirection of travel of the vehicle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of July,1918.

JOHN PFEIFER. Witness:

CHAs. I. WELCH.

